Huge thanks to Gerry for being this month’s sponsor. He has asked me to post the following: Still alive in ’25 – we’re all in this together! Find supportive community and resources at postdoom.com(founded by Michael Dowd; RIP).
“The 365-day running mean for the global surface temperature anomaly is back over 1.60°C, and the daily is back over 1.80°C.
“The Paris Agreement is yesterday’s news. The climate of the future is happening now.”
“‘Unusual’ and weak La Niña confirmed, [theoretically] offers cooling respite after record El Niño…
““It’s unusual to see a strong atmospheric component of La Niña without the corresponding cooler-than-average tropical Pacific surface temperature,” Emily Becker, associate director of NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, told Mongabay.”
“It seems like Sea Surface warming is accelerating faster than Land Surface warming.
“Might this relative warming gap shrink in the years ahead? Changes in ‘land-sea temperature gradients’ strongly impact regional weather!” [Leon Simons]
“Trump Signs Orders to Promote Fossil Fuels and End Climate Policies.
“The president said he’d declare an energy emergency, increase drilling and end support for electric cars. His pivot to oil and gas follows the hottest year in recorded history.”
“‘Chilling effect’ spreads to European asset managers over climate even as risks rise…
“Several European asset managers said they had received letters from Republican states threatening legal challenges to their focus on ESG [Environmental, Social and Governance] issues including any potential exclusion of fossil fuel investments.”
“While nearly 100% of Mainland USA is colder than average, it’s just the opposite in Alaska, which is living a beyond exceptionally mild month. Yesterday Tmaxes (via Rick Thoman) shows anomalies up to +50F above average at Deadhorse.
“Potentially historic winter storm could cripple parts of Deep South…
“Heavy snow and ice will fall in eight states from Texas to the Carolinas late Monday into Wednesday, leading to dangerous conditions in places where the severity of snowfall could be historic.”
“Grand Canyon experiencing driest winter on record.
“…the Grand Canyon is experiencing its driest winter on record, with only a trace amount of precipitation recorded so far at the Grand Canyon Airport. This marks a stark contrast to the usual winter weather patterns the park is accustomed to.”
“‘Everyone needs to be on high alert,’ mayor says, as a new burst of dangerous winds bears down on Los Angeles…
“The Storm Prediction Center declared an “extremely critical” fire zone, its highest alert level, for the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles and surrounding areas, including the Malibu coast.”
“Reinsurance retreat deepens California wildfire insurance crisis…
“California’s insurance framework may struggle to adequately address coverage needs for wildfires in Los Angeles, creating potential coverage gaps while leaving reinsurance companies largely unaffected.”
“EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN MEXICO – record heat in the Gulf of Mexico with January records smashed:
“35.9 Rio Verde 990m asl, 33.6 Orizaba 1260m asl; In the Pacific: 37.0 Salina Cruz AP. All the tropics are smashing record after record, the opposite of what [usually] happens during a Nina.“
“CARIBBEAN ENDLESS RECORD HEAT – two years breaking and re-breaking every record in the Caribbean and it’s just getting worse: All Nino records are being smashed one by one.
“Today it was the hottest night ever recorded at SINT EUSTATIUS (Dutch Caribbean) with a minimum of 25.7C [78.3F].”
“A strong fire breaks out in Siachoque, Boyacá [Colombia].
“The situation is critical at the site, because the conflagration is occurring at 3,800 meters above sea level , preventing helicopters from arriving with support to try to prevent the fire from spreading.”
“Colombia hails Türkiye’s help for flood-stricken areas…
“Colombia declared a national state of emergency in November due to heavy rains and floods that affected more than 195,000 people in La Guajira region alone.”
“Brazil drought lights a fire under global coffee prices…
“Moacir Donizetti… was one of hundreds of farmers hit by a brutal forest fire in Sao Paulo state, where years of soaring heat and erratic rains are set to drive up the cost of an espresso or latte far afield in Paris, New York or Tokyo.”
“Brazil is experiencing a record temperature of 41.5°C [106.7F] so far this year.
“Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – January 19, 2025 After the year’s record temperature of 41.5°C with a heat index of 46.7°C this Saturday, Rio de Janeiro continues to experience intense heat. This Sunday, the maximum temperatures reached 41°C.”
“Five days after the forest fire broke out in Epuyén, Chubut [Argentina] and the fire continues out of control.
“More than 3,000 hectares of forests and plantations have already burned, and the situation remains critical. Yesterday, a new fire started in Atilio Viglione…”
“High fertiliser use halves numbers of pollinators, world’s longest study finds…
“Bees were most affected – there were over nine times more of them in chemical-free plots compared with those with the highest levels of fertiliser, according to the paper, published in the journal npj Biodiversity.”
“…Europe’s agricultural sector is at a tipping point. The average farmer is 57 years old, and with 1,000 farms closing every day, the future of food production looks to be increasingly in jeopardy.”
“Danish carbon tax on agriculture essential for climate, minister says…
““We need to be more efficient in the way we produce food with the land we have,” Jeppe Bruus told Euractiv… But with farmers’ protests continuing amid a backlash against the EU’s green policies, there may be little political space for them to push their carbon pricing model.”
“RED WARNING | Andévalo and Condado (province of Huelva, Spain) Extreme danger due to very heavy rain. In some localities in the area, more than 120 l/m² have accumulated in less than twelve hours. [AEMET announcement]
“In force until 00:00 on Tuesday. Please take extreme precautions!”
“Snow and torrential rains fell on Friday in several regions of Algeria.
“Many people, surrounded by water, were saved by the Civil Protection, while the National Gendarmerie launched an appeal to Algerians, asking them to avoid traveling…”
“Torrential rain results in flooding of graves and collapsed headstones in Johannesburg cemeteries.
“Affected areas include Avalon Cemetery in Soweto, Waterval Cemetery in Midrand, Olifantsvlei in the far south of the city, and Westpark Cemetery in Emmarentia… This is a global phenomenon relative to increasing rainfall.”
“Exodus in Maysan, drought hits Southern Iraq hard.
“Al-Azair district in southern Maysan province is facing severe water shortages, which have led to a population migration toward the provincial center, Kazem Daryoul, the district’s director said on Monday.”
“Heavy rain in Gilan began on Wednesday evening [Iran] and caused flooding, which caused heavy damage to water, electricity and gas infrastructure in Talesh…
“In the pictures below, you can see the damage caused by the flood in the villages of Kharjgil-Asalem, Gilan province.”
“Kashmir is witnessing a stark transformation. The glaciers that fed its rivers for centuries are retreating at alarming rates, directly impacting water availability across the region… the Kolahoi glacier, the largest in the Kashmir Valley, has lost approximately 23% of its mass over the past few decades…”
“The water-sharing disputes with India go far beyond environmental challenges; they are entrenched in deep-seated political asymmetries, historical grievances, and the volatile geopolitics of a region fraught with competing ambitions.”
“Dry materials on forest floor and drought are stoking forest fires [Nepal].
“Climate change and weakening link between the public and forests due to migration are amplifying risks, experts say… What has left officials much concerned now is the lack of rainfall for a prolonged period.”
“Nepal’s citrus industry struggles against climate change.
“…for 40-year-old Bal Kumari Thapa, this season now stirs bitter memories and growing anxiety. Her once-thriving citrus orchards, a key source of income, have been reduced to ashes, a casualty of rising global temperatures and shifting climate patterns.”
“This winter, China has had abnormally little precipitation.
“So far, there has been no precipitation for 30 to 60 days in eastern China. The last time it rained in Shanghai was on December 12, and Guangzhou on November 26.”
“Records for January smashed today: 7.0 [44.6F] Nakashibetsu, 8.4 Betsukai, 8.3 Nosappu, 7.6 Atco, 9.0 Nakateshibetu, 7.9 Ota, 6.5 Kamishihoro, 6.9 Komaba, 8.2 Ikeda, 7.6 Kamishibetsu. In Miyagi Prefecture also record at Onagawa with 13.3C.”
“Snow depth of 438 cm [172 inches] on Jan. 17, new monthly record [1980-2025], surpassing 434 cm in 2022. A reminder that the Dec. record was already broken last month with 357 cm [national Dec. record].”
“More exceptional warmth in Indonesia and Malaysia with MINIMUM temperatures locally >28C [82.4F].
“The Sumatran town of Gunungsitoli, which has one of the world’s most stable climate, had its hottest January night on record with a minImum of 25.2C.”
“Indonesia experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, the country’s weather agency said Friday, matching several other nations which have reported similar rises in temperature…
“The average air temperature in 2024 was 27.5 degrees Celsius (81.5 Fahrenheit), some 0.8 degrees Celsius warmer than between 1991 and 2020…”
“Landslides and flash floods on Indonesia’s Java island leave 17 dead and 8 missing.
“Indonesian rescuers have recovered the bodies of at least 17 people who were swept away in flash floods or buried under tons of mud and rocks that hit hilly villages on the country’s main island of Java.”
“Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed that eight people died in the landslides that hit two areas in Bali…
“BNPB appealed to the public to be aware of light to heavy rain accompanied by lightning which still has the potential to hit most areas of Bali Province.”
“Tropical Cyclone Sean has caused record-breaking rain while intensifying to a category three storm off the northern coast of Western Australia…
“Karratha recorded 274.4mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 9am, which was the wettest day on record in any month… Yesterday’s rainfall total exceeded the town’s entire monthly January rainfall record of 263.4mm.”
“Western Australians have faced brutal record-breaking temperatures with Perth hitting a 10-year high of 43.6C and Geraldton hitting a record of 49.3 [120.7F] with Queensland now set to brace for a “severe heatwave”…
“”Geraldton equalled the record that was set just last year. 49.3 degrees. Some incredible heat on the west coast.””
“Residents in Western Australia have been warned about a rare infection which can result in death as a heatwave engulfs large swathes of the state…
“The infection, caused by Naegleria fowleri, “can cause inflammation and destruction of brain tissue” if forced into the nose through warm freshwater.”
“Drought and some of the driest conditions on record across South Australia are making it extremely difficult for the state’s dairy farmers this season.
“South Australian Dairyfarmers’ Association president Rob Brokenshire said things were tough, and the situation had been exacerbated by lack of hay and consequent high prices.”
“The report warns that current industry growth projections “will counteract most efforts” to reduce aviation emissions and suggests: “Sustainable aviation fuels are only a viable solution without exponentially growing levels of traffic.””
“Businesses ‘recalibrating climate goals as AI pushes emissions higher’.
“New research has found that while nearly half of business executives believe that the use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is increasing their emissions, only one in eight businesses are currently able to effectively tracking this.”
“Scientists Cast Doubt on Atmospheric Methane Removal Technology…
“A new study from University of Utah researchers has raised significant concerns about a proposed climate intervention that would spray hydrogen peroxide into the atmosphere to combat global warming.”
“Davos climate activists paint Amazon base green, disrupt helicopters…
“Swiss police swarmed to close down both protests as global business and political leaders descended on the mountain resort on the opening day of the meeting, where demonstrations over fossil fuels and climate change have become a regular feature.”
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffee or become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
Huge thanks to Gerry for being this month’s sponsor. He has asked me to post the following: Still alive in ’25 – we’re all in this together! Find supportive community and resources at postdoom.com (founded by Michael Dowd; RIP).
“Top financial watchdog warns climate change set to trigger market panics… The Financial Stability Board said the financial damage of climate shocks such as floods, droughts, fires or storms could cause a broader pullback in lending and downturn in investor confidence…
““There could also be an abrupt, broad-based repricing of climate-physical risk, as the expectation of larger future losses are incorporated into current prices and impact sectors and jurisdictions not currently directly affected by disasters,” the body said.”
“…climate change is fueling a new era of so-called “unnatural disasters,” from supercharged storms to cataclysmic flooding, that are triggering major shifts in the insurance market across the United States.”
“Planet-warming gas levels rose more than ever in 2024…
“Concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) are now more than 50% higher than before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels… “Limiting global warming to 1.5C would require the CO2 rise to be slowing, but in reality the opposite is happening,” says Richard Betts of the Met Office.”
“Study shows hot leaves can’t catch carbon from the air. It’s bad news for rainforests – and Earth…
“…rising temperatures will severely affect the ability of tropical forests to photosynthesise. This will hinder their capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing their role in mitigating global warming and exacerbating climate change.”
“In 2024, Earth received about 2.9 millimetres of rain per day. That may not sound like much, but it could represent a new record amount of precipitation for the planet.
“Last year’s global average precipitation was about 3 per cent greater than the average since records began in 1983, and it just surpasses the previous record, set in 1998.”
“Damaging Megadroughts Are Spreading Around the World…
“…over the past 40 years, megadroughts hit every continent but Antarctica. Mongolia, southeastern Australia and the western US were among the regions with the highest density of severe multi-year drought events. The longest drought in their research, though, was one in the eastern Congo basin that lasted a decade.”
“Global temperatures have started 2025 at record-setting levels – above where they were in January 2024 despite the emergence of modest La Nina conditions in the tropical Pacific…
“January …has a ~50% chance to set a new all-time record for the warmest January.” [Zeke Hausfather]
“I’m not sure why the sea surface temperature of the sub polar region of the North Atlantic (the region just South of Greenland) is spiking, but it is…
“Here’s a picture of the region:” [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
“Extraordinary heat in Northern Europe: 17th day of records broken in Europe in 17 days this month/year: arguably it never happened before in climatic history.
“FINLAND also with rare >+9C [48.2F] yesterday. Most important records broken: 8.0 Virrat; 5.4 Rautavaara.”
“Røros, the coldest place in southern Norway, has the last days experienced an unparalleled January heat. Friday was the 2. day in row with +9C [48.2F] and over the old January record of 8.2C 1.1.2020.
“Of its eight highest January temps, three were observed Wednesday to Friday.”
“Storm damage risks electric supply from power station…
“The company which operates Northern Ireland‘s electricity grid has said storm damage to Ballylumford power station in County Antrim has increased the risk to supplies for the rest of the winter.”
“The most legendary Pyrenean north face soon totally deglaciated! The small and resilient Oulettes glacier has retreated to the top of the steep bedrock step.”
“After intense flooding, Barcelona is still battling drought…
“”We are suffering this severe drought, and at the same time we are suffering some results of extreme precipitation,” says Marc Prohom, head of climatology at the Meteorological Service of Catalonia.”
“Sicily’s Aeolian islands were cut off by bad weather on Friday and schools were shut due to torrential rain on Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi and Panarea.
“Torrential rain-swelled floods hit many parts of Sicily including Taormina where the Alvcantar river was in flood…”
“Tunisia’s six-year drought cripples women herb harvesters.
“On a hillside in Tunisia’s northwestern highlands, women scour a sun-scorched field for the wild herbs they rely on for their livelihoods, but droughts and rising temperatures are making it ever harder to find the precious plants.”
“Moroccan watermelon exports hit eight-year low due to severe drought…
“…The decline in exports is attributed to an unparalleled drought in the country, impacting production levels significantly. The drought has precipitated restrictions and outright bans on watermelon cultivation in specific locales, notably the Tata province where cultivation has ceased entirely.”
“Extraordinary record at Berberati, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC With 38.0C [100.4F] it smashed in pieces its record of January hottest day, after breaking with huge margins those of all previous months.
“Records will keep falling all over Central Africa in the next weeks.”
“Nigeria’s Cocoa Industry in Shambles as Farmers Battle Theft and Violence.
“As the cocoa industry struggles to cope with climate change, farmers in southwestern Nigeria are also faced with a surge in theft, and violent attacks, affecting their livelihoods.”
“ENDLESS RECORD HEAT IN THE GULF OF GUINEA – three Months with hundreds of records smashed every single day in every single country and it’s continuing….
“EQUATORIAL GUINEA Min 26.9 [80.4F] Bata is HOTTEST JANUARY NIGHT IN EQ. GUINEA HISTORY; GABON TMin 27.5 Libreville – hottest January night tied.”
“Pakistan’s ‘Agri sector is facing severe challenges due to water scarcity’.
“Romina Khurshid Alam, coordinator to the prime minister for climate change… highlighted Pakistan’s increasing reliance on glaciers and rivers for water supply, noting that the country is grappling with acute water shortages that are intensifying challenges for agriculture, a vital sector for the national economy.”
“‘A Year of Failed Crops’: Erratic Rain, Overflowing Lakes Hurt Haryana Farmers [Northern, central India].
“Farmers in Haryana, accustomed to water shortage, are now struggling with excessive rainfall… “For the past one year, no crops have been harvested from this land, and it may take several months for the water to recede,” Mustaq Ahmed, a farmer from Haryana, tells The Quint.”
“While it is wintertime across the country, Kerala is experiencing heatwave-like conditions.
“Above normal temperatures are due to a convection band between Sri Lanka and the equator… Many people, forced to stay indoors during the daytime, are dealing with significant disruptions in their daily lives, which has negatively affected trade and commerce.”
“Yala Glacier in Himalayas Projected to vanish by 2040s [Nepal].
“The Yala glacier (Nepal) retreated by 680m and witnessed significant reduction in area (36%) between 1974 and 2021… The retreat of glaciers like Yala threatens water security for millions of people who depend on glacial melt for freshwater.”
“China’s Himalayan mega dam deepens India’s water worries…
“Analysts warn that while the project may not provoke immediate conflict, it lays the groundwork for a contentious new chapter in a relationship already defined by mistrust, border clashes and competing regional ambitions.”
“Tibet’s Earthquake Aftermath: Cracks in China’s Hydropower Infrastructure.
“Following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Tibet, Chinese officials detected damage in five out of fourteen inspected hydropower dams. Three dams have been emptied and evacuations have begun. This event underscores the risks of building hydropower structures in quake-prone zones like Tibet, China, and India.”
“Disaster-hardened Japan faces enormous costs from climate change…
“The country ranked sixth on the Disaster Risk Index compiled by global telecommunications company Intersec late last year…climate damages through 2050 could amount to ¥952 trillion ($6 trillion), according to a December analysis — far more than the nominal value of the entire economy.”
“Severe flooding in Pitas, Malaysia has displaced 10,000 people, prompting authorities to activate 17 temporary evacuation centres (PPS) as rising waters isolate villages and render roads impassable…
“”The situation is critical, and we are working to ensure all evacuees have access to safe shelter and essential services.””
“Red Bridge, Tourist Attraction in Bandar Lampung Collapses Due to Flood [Sumatra, Indonesia].
“Bandar Lampung, CNN Indonesia –The suspension bridge located at the Taman Sumur Putri dam tourist location, North Telukbetung District, Bandar Lampung City, Lampung, collapsed after being hit by floods , Friday (17/1).”
“The NSW government has declared a natural disaster in three areas, as wild weather continues across Australia this weekend, with storms, heatwaves, and a possible cyclone predicted.
“Support from the state and federal governments will be rolled out to individuals, communities and businesses in Port Stephens, Maitland, and the Snowy Valley.”
“HISTORIC HEAT IN OCEANIA. All Oceania is with relentless record heat, every single day
“Yesterday record heat – 35.3 [95.5F] at La Roche (Mare Island) NEW CALEDONIA destroys in pieces its January record and also beats its ALL TIME HIGHEST TEMPERATURE.“
“EXCEPTIONAL WARMTH IN ANTARTICA – minimum temperatures +2C/+4C as South as 74S in Terra Nova Bay, Progress, Syowa, Novolazarevskaya, Zhongshan and Jongo Bongo Stations.
“The latter last 2 minimums of +2.4C and +2.6C [36.7F] are exceptional: one of the very few times with nights above freezing.”
“Hundreds of homes evacuated as Patagonia fires grow in Argentina.
“Forest fires fueled by a heat wave scorched a picturesque corner of Argentina’s Patagonia region Thursday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes… “The fire grew exponentially yesterday thanks to weather conditions,” said provincial governor Ignacio Torres.”
“A state of emergency has been declared in southern Brazil after heavy rain caused flooding in coastal cities including Balneário Camboriú and Itapema.
“Footage shows partially submerged cars navigating flooded streets and Itapema Mayor Alexandre Xepa calling for aid and rescue assistance.”
“HISTORIC HEAT WAVE IN SOUTH AMERICA – temperatures near 45C [113F] in Argentina and records broken:
“44.0 Mariscal Estigarribia PARAGUAY tied its January highest temperature record; 42.1 Porto Murtinho BRAZIL new January record; records also in COLOMBIA at Girardot and in VENEZUELA.”
“Exclusive – Argentina negotiating gas imports from Bolivia, Chile as heat wave stokes demand [and causes blackouts].
“Bolivia and Chile are in talks to restart gas exports to Argentina amid a surge in demand spurred by a summer heat wave, underscoring the challenge for the government in Buenos Aires as it looks to become energy self-sufficient.”
“LA wildfires: evacuees warned against returning to homes due to toxic waste.
“National Weather Service says ‘wind siege has finally ended’ and forecasts higher humidity but warns high winds could return next week… Officials said at least 27 people have died from the fires, while a total of 12,000 structures have been destroyed. The tragic toll is expected to climb.”
“L.A. Isn’t Ready for What’s Next. Sooner or later, a winter storm will hit, and deadly mudslides and debris flows that will likely follow…
“State and local officials in California are rushing to study land that has burned, identify where trouble is likely when it next rains, and warn residents.”
“Climate change is already changing how we eat. It could get much worse…
“Scientists have confirmed that as carbon dioxide levels rise in the atmosphere, staple crops like wheat and rice lose vitamins, proteins and micronutrients like zinc and iron that humans need to survive.”
“Initiatives like “meatless Mondays” are not always strictly necessary and animal products will not be off the menu in a net zero future, the UK Government’s climate advisers have suggested.
“It comes as the panel of experts is preparing to relax advice on how much meat needs to be cut from our diets.”
“A 2023 global heat spike was partly due to reduced sulfate emissions from shipping, which decreased cloud cover and raised temperatures by 0.08°C… “Air quality improvement is immediate, and everyone is always going to go for that. A lesson here is we make decisions about trade-offs all the time…””
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffee or become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
I’ve had a few enquiries about BlueSky recently. I am on there but with very few followers, so I haven’t done much in the way of posting yet. This is my profile: https://bsky.app/profile/climateeconomy.bsky.social
Huge thanks to Gerry for being this month’s sponsor. He has asked me to post the following: Still alive in ’25 – we’re all in this together! Find supportive community and resources at postdoom.com (founded by Michael Dowd; RIP).
“Economic growth could fall 50% over 20 years from climate shocks, say actuaries…
“At 3C or more of heating by 2050, there could be more than 4 billion deaths, significant sociopolitical fragmentation worldwide, failure of states (with resulting rapid, enduring, and significant loss of capital), and extinction events.”
“Armed conflict and extreme weather driven by climate change are viewed as the top risks for the global economy in 2025, according to a new report.
“The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report 2025, released on Wednesday, warns that wars and extreme weather are buffeting economic confidence.”
“Are we entering a dangerous new phase of climate change?
“It is time to accept the truth: we have broken the climate… climate systems are no longer behaving as expected, and the only thing we can say with certainty is that we should expect extreme weather events to become more frequent, stronger and longer-lasting.”
“It’s astonishing when you think about how big the Earth is. 2024 had 7% more atmospheric moisture than 2000. That moisture loading is a big reason for the biblical flood events in 2024 because storms amass it.
“It may be astonishing, but not surprising… it’s happening just as we expect it to.”
“Even with La Niña, both hemispheres are record warm!
“Most people are completely oblivious about the rate of global warming.” [Leon Simons]
“It’s official. Global f&%kery is accelerating. Hang on peeps, the ride is just getting started.” [Prof Eliot Jacobson, referring to the forecast anomalies pictured right]
“Research finds frozen ground in the Arctic is sinking at an increased rate.
“…the sinking or settling of frozen ground, also known as permafrost, as it thaws—is widespread and happening at accelerating rates, with serious implications, including ecosystem, infrastructure and landscape disruptions.”
“Pervasive glacier retreats across Svalbard from 1985 to 2023…
“With more frequent blocking occurring and continued regional warming, future calving front retreats will likely intensify, leading to more significant glacier mass loss.”
“Finland’s climate warms faster than global average…
“Historically, Finland’s average annual temperatures often fell below zero degrees Celsius before the industrial era. Today, temperatures consistently remain above freezing…”
“Nord Stream methane leaks spread across 14% of Baltic waters…
“We show that dissolved methane decreased rapidly through outgassing, however initial concentrations were so high that 14% of the Baltic Sea still experienced concentrations 5 times greater than average natural levels.”
“It’s not just the Financial Times last weekend – in parallel, the insurance industry is also increasingly concerned about the risks of AMOC slowing or shut-down.
“See this article in The Journal of the Chartered Insurance Institute.” [Prof Stefan Rahmstorf]
“Horta had a super warm minimum of 18.9C [66F] which ties the Highest minimum temperature ever recorded in January in the Azores which are having an absurdly and unprecedented warm weather, more like a late summer than a winter.”
“Murcia [Spain] wakes to freezing temperatures and record lows.
“…the most extreme figure was registered on Monday in La Junquera, where temperatures reached a record-breaking -12.4°C, the lowest since records began.”
“Drought continues in Spain’s Andalucia as January rain fails to fill reservoirs.
“While the north of Spain has overcome drought, Malaga and Alicante’s water reserves are critical, according to a report by the Public Sanitation and Supply association (AEOPAS). “The southern half of Spain is still in drought,” it warned.”
“The Floods This Time: In the Mediterranean, Climate Change Is Already Here…
“In the autumn, deadly floods wreaked havoc along an arc from Spain to the Balkans, and from Morocco to Libya. More than 200 people were killed in Valencia in October, not long after a deluge dumped five times the month’s ordinary rainfall across Europe in a single week.”
“Mediterranean Sea Surface Temperatures increased by +0.5°C in a few years.
“More warming in the past 15 years than in the preceding 150. Increasing the sea temperature by 1°C takes >3000 times as much heat as for the same volume of air.” [Leon Simons]
“Greece hotel pools set to switch to seawater on drought-hit islands.
“Hotels on Greek islands may be filling their swimming pools with seawater this summer in response to worsening drought conditions, under new legislation being debated in parliament.”
“Concerns grow over Limassol’s impending water crisis [Cyprus]…
“Following an emergency council meeting, the Limassol water board expressed grave concerns about the region’s dwindling water reserves. It highlighted that, should the current conditions persist, water shortages during the summer months are almost inevitable.”
“Syria endowment ministry urges for rain prayers amid drought fears…
“The prayer, known in Arabic as Salat al-Istisqa, tends to be performed by worshippers after Friday prayers, in a collective ritual to ask God to provide enough rain for farming and human consumption.”
“Illegal wells and over-irrigation spark concerns in Morocco ‘dry zones’ amid drought…
“Reports from Water Police units in Morocco have revealed extensive misuse of water resources by agricultural estates during the ongoing drought, prompting alarm among government agencies.”
“Cyclone Dikeledi: UN mounts aid response for victims in Africa…
“The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the UN partners began working with local authorities after the cyclone made landfall on 11 January 2025, Saturday, in northern Madagascar, the same area hit by the deadly cyclone Chido nearly a month ago…”
“Daughters of drought: teen girls traded for grass in Africa’s climate crisis..
““For a girl to be considered ready for marriage in my community, she first undergoes female genital mutilation,” said Dorcas, interviewed for the Sustainable Africa Series. “Imagine being 13, mutilated, and then traded for grass to feed cattle.””
“Unusual weather patterns cause record low rainfall this winter in the North [of Vietnam].
“Since early December, Hà Nội has experienced only two days of light rain… The absence of rain is unusual for the first half of the winter season. Additionally, daytime temperatures in the city’s Hà Đông area have frequently exceeded 20°C.”
“China’s coastal water temperatures hit record high in 2024…
“The average temperature in China’s coastal waters rose for a second consecutive year in 2024 to a record 21.50 degrees Celsius (70.7 degrees Fahrenheit), authorities said, in a year that was the world’s hottest since records began.”
“Hong Kong Breaks 35 Temperature Records in 2024, Hottest Year in City’s History…
“Last year, the city saw 35 record-breaking high temperature events, including the highest absolute maximum temperature for March, the warmest April on record, the warmest first half-year on record, and the highest number of hot nights for August.”
“Forest fires continue in Suphan Buri and Chon Buri [Thailand]…
“Massive forest fires, allegedly started by poachers four days ago, continue to rage in Suphan Buri, with approximately 1,000 rai of forest already damaged, officials have reported.”
“Singapore Braces for Second Monsoon Surge Amid Record Rainfall.
“Singapore is preparing for another monsoon surge this weekend following recent heavy rains… Authorities are bracing for potential flash floods as tides and rainfall levels are projected to remain high.”
“Records are being destroyed in nearly 100% of the tropics. Today in AUSTRALIA 39.7 [103.5F] Gladstone and 39.0 in the AP smashed their January record highs. Byron Bay min 24.7 Record high minimums.”
“Marine rescues, giant hailstones as wild storms linger over northern NSW.
“Storm conditions are still pounding parts of New South Wales, with large hailstones falling in northern areas of the state. More heavy rain is forecast for the Hunter and mid-north coast regions over the coming days.”
“Fish diversity has changed dramatically on the Great Barrier Reef.
“Life on the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing significant shifts caused by climate change and various human-generated factors, according to a recent study.”
“Last month was the warmest December on record in Marlborough [NZ].
“And the region wasn’t far off having its hottest December day too. Data released by Plant and Food Research this week showed the hottest day of December 2024 was December 5, when the mercury reached 32.4C [90.3F].”
“Devastating fire in Epuyén [southern Argentina]: hundreds evacuated, houses burned and Route 40 cut off…
“Epuyén has been burning in recent hours after a huge fire broke out… High temperatures and a wind with gusts reaching 70 kilometers per hour caused the flames to advance throughout the afternoon, destroying everything in their path.”
“Corn hovers near 13-month high as drought grips Argentina…
“Chicago corn futures eased on Thursday, but remained close to a 13-month high on the US government tightening its supply outlook and hot and dry weather damaging crops in Argentina.”
“Drought, intense heat worry soybean farmers in southern Brazil…
“Prolonged dry spells in key soybean producing regions of southern Brazil are raising concerns among farmers about the performance of the 2024/25 harvest… soybean fields in Rio Grande do Sul are already feeling the impact of a drought lasting up to 40 days.”
“‘We are crying for rain’: Suriname’s villages go hungry as drought bites.
“After the worst rains in decades, rivers are drying up and crops failing, leaving people in the interior without clean water or healthcare, and cutting transport links.”
“Hawaii lawmakers vow to stabilize property insurance market as climate change fuels higher premiums…
“Insurance companies had increasingly been viewing Hawaii as a disaster risk state even before the August 2023 wildfires on Maui, but that event only intensified the trend, Senate President Ron Kouchi told reporters at a news conference.”
“The $2 Trillion Home Insurance Nightmare Is Getting Even Worse…
“On top of the human tragedy they’re still inflicting, the Los Angeles wildfires are exposing a gap between what people thought their homes were worth and what they’ll actually get from insurance companies… But this isn’t just a Los Angeles problem.”
“I’m a climate scientist and my house in LA burned down. My work has never been more real…
“This event, for me, has destroyed any boundary between my work and the rest of my life, my family, my friends. It causes me to reflect on whether the words we frequently use to talk about climate change are consistent with what I’d want to hear in this moment.”
“Trump energy chief pick says linking wildfires to climate crisis is ‘hype’.
“Donald Trump’s nominee for energy secretary, Chris Wright, is facing criticism for disputing the ties between climate change and more frequent or severe wildfires, the Washington Post reports, a stance that is contrary to scientific consensus.”
“New York City lawsuit against Exxon, BP, Shell over climate change dismissed…
“In a decision on Tuesday, state Supreme Court Justice Anar Patel in Manhattan rejected the city’s argument that the oil companies should have told climate-conscious residents that fossil fuels cause climate change because this information was publicly known.”
“Prioritizing Food Over Climate: The Shift In Global Farming Policies.
“Douglas McIntyre, Editor-in-Chief at Climate Crisis, highlights the UK government’s new directive for farmers to prioritize food production over environmental goals. Farmers are advised to focus on productivity, even if it means using gas-powered engines instead of green technology.”
“Emerging infectious diseases, biodiversity loss, and anthropogenic environmental change are interconnected crises with massive social and ecological costs. In this Review, we discuss how pathogens and parasites are responding to global change…”
“Why a comedian is using jokes to talk about climate change…
“Goldsmith… began filling his routine with jokes about everything from the challenges of remembering a reusable food container to feeling smug about having a lower carbon footprint.”
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffee or become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
Huge thanks to Gerry for being this month’s sponsor. He has asked me to post the following: Still alive in ’25 – we’re all in this together! Find supportive community and resources at postdoom.com (founded by Michael Dowd; RIP).
“January 3-10 all saw record high global surface temperatures.
“The 365-day running average is once again at 1.60°C above pre-industrial. January 10th was 1.76°C above pre-industrial.
“The climate 8-ball is overworked and exhausted.” [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
“Looking at another year of ECMWF reanalysis data, it still looks like the AMOC is rapidly slowing down.
“Northward heat transport through the tropical Atlantic Ocean has decreased significantly. A decrease of 0.5 PW represents ~16,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 joules per year! [Leon Simons]
“The utterly plausible case that climate change makes London much colder [and drier]…
“A full collapse of the AMOC would be a “massive, planetary-scale disaster”, says Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist at Germany’s Potsdam Institute and one of the world’s leading experts on the system.”
“Water shortage fears as Labour’s first AI growth zone sited close to new reservoir…
“The first of these will be in Culham, Oxfordshire, only seven miles from a reservoir planned by Thames Water in Abingdon, which was supposed to provide water to people in the severely water-stressed south-east of England.”
“UK faces broccoli and cauliflower shortage this spring…
“Growers blame weather challenges in UK and Europe, which Met Office says will become more frequent with climate breakdown… It will also be hard to supplement any vegetables with crops from the continent, as floods in key growing areas prevented many farmers from planting…”
“Just Stop Oil protesters spray-paint ‘1.5 is dead’ on Charles Darwin’s grave…
“The slogan “1.5 is dead” was sprayed in chalk paint on the gravestone of the 19th-century naturalist – widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology – at about 9.30am on Monday.”
“Flooding: a giant basin to protect Paris from the waters is being tested in Seine-et-Marne…
“At the start of 2025, several départements are under flood alert. In 2024, Paris broke its rainfall record, a sad performance that worries many private and public players: Paris City Hall is preparing action plans to train Parisians in the scenario of a major flood on the Seine.”
“Frosty days increasingly rare, setting new weather record [Netherlands].
“Despite the overnight frosts of the past few days, and the snow in the south of the Netherlands, there has been no 24-hour period of sub zero temperatures at the De Bilt weather station for 756 days – and that means a new weather record.”
“Warm winter in Ukraine: January 2025 breaks temperature records.
“Ukrainians are experiencing unusually warm weather in January 2025. On 10 January, new temperature records were set at weather stations, with the daytime maximum reaching +15.4°C in Kherson.”
“Turkey experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, its weather agency said Monday, as bouts of extreme temperatures multiplied across the globe due to climate change.
“”In 2024, the average temperature in Turkey was 15.6 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), which is 1.7C higher than the average between 1991-2020,” a statement said.”
“As the Kurdistan Region faces noticeable climate challenges, an ancient rain-summoning ritual known as “Bûke Barane” (Rain Bride) has gained renewed meaning, merging centuries-old Kurdish spiritual traditions with contemporary environmental concerns.”
“Jordan signed a preliminary agreement on Sunday to begin a major project for desalinating and transporting water from Aqaba south of the kingdom to the capital Amman.
“The agreement was inked with a consortium led by two French companies, Meridiam and Suez, to address water shortages in the kingdom.”
“December was the driest month on record [Portugal].
“December was the driest month on record, with Portugal having rainfall that was “only 12% of the average value” recorded in the period between 1981 and 2010… In the Algarve… water consumption have already been applied…”
“2024 was the driest and second warmest year on record in the Canary Islands…
“The annual mean temperature across the archipelago reached 19.6°C, marking a deviation of 1.2°C from the average… Precipitation was markedly below average, with the islands receiving just 52% of the expected rainfall.”
“World’s record heat is worsening air pollution and health in Global South.
“…oppressive heat helps degrade air quality, making people sick. While air pollution sources are typically local or regional, the invisible hand of climate change is further deteriorating air quality around the planet.”
“Records keep being smashed all over the tropics, every day. CAMEROON Douala also broke its January record with 36.2C [97.2F] after breaking those of all previous months.”
“Climate change forcing farmers to replace cows with goats, chickens with ducks.
“South African farmers are choosing goats, which can survive better in arid terrains created by climate change-induced droughts, over cows. In Bangladesh, where floods have progressively worsened, the choice between chickens and ducks has become clear.”
“Nineteen hippos die in Zimbabwe after severe drought.
“Nineteen hippos have died in Zimbabwe in the past three months most likely due to a lack of adequate food because of severe drought, the wildlife authority said… Samples from the dead animals showed no trace of abnormalities or anthrax poisoning, ZimParks said in a statement.”
“More record heat in MOZAMBIQUE and MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL in this insane heat wave which has been going on relentlessly for months.
“Latest Records for January: 41.9 [107.4F] Massangena; 36.1 Inhambane; 35.7 Inhambane AP; 36.8 Massinga; 39.0 Mocuba; Tmin 26.5 Mocuba… Juan de Nova Island unbelievable MINIMUM 30.3. HOTTEST NIGHT IN HISTORY OF FRENCH SOUTHERN TERRITORIES.”
“‘Nightmare’ fire threatens iconic Madagascar national park.
“A mighty blaze in Madagascar’s Ranomafana National Park is menacing the home of the world’s rarest lemur species. Disastrous dry conditions have turned the biodiversity haven into a tinderbox.”
“Mayotte hit by new storm [Dikeledi] just weeks after devastating cyclone.
“A fresh tropical storm has struck Mayotte in the Indian Ocean just weeks after a deadly cyclone which killed at least 39 people and left more than 200 still missing.”
“Sri Lanka’s children suffer amid climate change-fuelled floods and disease.
“Turbocharged monsoon floods are intensifying the spread of waterborne diseases in the Indian Ocean island nation… For a week, seven-year-old Nathushika suffered from diarrhoea, vomiting, and a high fever.”
“Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir [Himalayan India] experienced its lowest precipitation in over five decades in 2024, surpassing the 50-year low recorded in 1974…
“The anomaly has been attributed to a combination of climatic shifts and unusual weather phenomena, which have caused lower-than-expected rainfall throughout the year.”
“Rainfall recorded in Singapore for January hits new high on Pulau Tekong on Jan 10…
“Pulau Tekong recorded 241.8mm [9.5 inches] of rain on Jan 10, surpassing the previous high of 238.2mm recorded on Jan 30, 2011 on Pulau Ubin, said the Meteorological Service Singapore on Jan 14 in response to queries from The Straits Times.”
“We are close to 2 years of continuous record heat with some stations failing to record a single colder than average day in the whole 2024. Today new records of January highest minimums include: 27.2 [80.9F] Puerto Princesa; 26.0 Borongan.”
“Better known for its scorching temperatures at this time of year, Marble Bar, 1,470 kilometres north of Perth, was hit with 104mm [4.1 inches] of rain in just over two hours on Monday evening…
“Flood warnings remain after rain left …the outback town cut off. Roads across the Pilbara, including North West Coastal Highway, were also cut by flood waters.”
“Australians may have to pay more for their home insurance due to the catastrophic fires in Los Angeles, as international firms raise premiums to pay for the expected massive payouts from those blazes.
“Natural disasters have already fuelled Australians’ insurance costs beyond inflation, analysis from The Australia Institute has shown.”
“Exceptionally high temperatures in Patagonia [Argentina]!
“43.6°C [110.5F] Trelew – ALL-TIME RECORD broken by 1°C and worldwide highest temperature ever recorded at this latitude [43.2°S]! [This is also a new all time record for the province of Chubut and the highest temperature ever recorded in the world so far south; h/t Extreme Temps].
“At least 10 people have died after landslides swept through two cities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, state officials have said.
“The Bethania neighbourhood in the city of Ipatinga was the worst affected… The mayor’s office said that 204mm (8in) of rain fell in Ipatinga on Sunday morning.”
“San Diego has driest start to water year in recorded history…
“The meteorological water year — the “rainy season” — starts on Oct. 1 and, so far, San Diego County has only received a little over a tenth of an inch of rain, leaving a rain deficit of almost four inches. As a result, moisture in vegetation, both in living and dead plants, is at critically dry levels…”
“‘Particularly dangerous’ wildfire weather returns to California and could linger for months, say forecasts.
“The good news is there’s no sign on the horizon of a windstorm close to last week’s Santa Anas, which brought record-setting 100mph wind gusts to Los Angeles. The bad news is that it looks like Los Angeles’s record-dry start to its rainy season will keep getting worse.”
“Where there’s fire, there’s smoke: Los Angeles blazes raise fears of ‘super toxic’ lung damage.
““Wildfire smoke is super toxic to the lungs, more so than ‘regular’ smoke, because of the concentrations of fine particulates,” said Don McKenzie, an assistant professor at the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.”
“Canadian insurers face record costs from 2024 extreme weather…
“Events that cause significant destruction “are escalating at a shocking rate and Canada is simply not prepared,” said Celyeste Power, president of the IBC, an industry association representing Canadian insurers.”
“Today the overnight minimum at Anchorage, Alaska was 36F/2.2C again, therefore it ties for the second time in few days its record of January. 54F yesterday at Nenana AP ties its January highest temperature on record. Sittka might pass the whole month WITHOUT A SINGLE FREEZING temperature. In Alaska climatic history it happened just once.”
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffeeor become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
With apologies to my readers, and especially my donors and subscribers, urgent business requires me to head over to the mainland. Kali is going to be very kind and help me post some stuff whilst I’m away, so do check in, but it won’t be as comprehensive as usual. I’ll be properly back at my station with an “Economic” thread on Monday. Thank you for bearing with.
Huge thanks to Gerry for being this month’s sponsor. He has asked me to post the following: Still alive in ’25 – we’re all in this together! Find supportive community and resources at postdoom.com (founded by Michael Dowd; RIP).
“Copernicus: 2024 is the first year to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial level.
“2024 was the warmest year in global temperature records going back to 1850. According to ERA5 (1), the global average temperature of 15.10°C was 0.72°C above the 1991-2020 average, and 0.12°C above 2023, the previous warmest year on record. This is equivalent to 1.60°C above an estimate of the 1850-1900 temperature designated to be the pre-industrial level.”
“Sea surface temperatures and deeper water temperatures reached new record high in 2024…
“From 2023 to 2024, the global upper 2000 meters ocean heat content increase is 16 zettajoules (1021 Joules), ~140 times the world’s total electricity generation in 2023.”
“La Niña is finally here but it won’t stay for long…
“A weak La Niña climate pattern has emerged in the Pacific Ocean, months later than was initially forecast. This will raise the risk of drought and heavy rain in parts of the world, even as it lowers global average temperatures.”
[Meanwhile there is still record heat in much of the tropics; updates on the next climate post]
“Biodiversity loss and climate change: Interdependent global challenges…
“Climate change is one of the drivers of biodiversity loss, along with factors including unsustainable food production and the overuse of natural resources. Nature is considered a key tool in combating rising global temperatures…”
“One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction.
“On the basis of monitored natural inland wetlands (including peatlands, marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers and pools, among others), 35% of wetland area was lost between 1970 and 2015, at a rate three times faster than that of forests.”
“BlackRock quits climate change group in latest green climbdown..
“All six of the largest US banks, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs, have quit a similar group for banks, the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, in recent weeks.”
“Conflict between Turkey and Kurdish groups rises around key dam in northern Syria...
“Over a thousand protesters from Kurdish areas in northeast Syria gathered Wednesday afternoon at the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates River in Aleppo province, a critical source of both water and electricity that has been at the center of clashes.”
“Mel Gibson also offered up his own theory about the LA fires as he waits to find out the fate of his own home in Malibu and whether it is still standing amid the state of emergency.
“The actor said: ‘All those earmarks, the precursors of a collapse, they’re present in our time.’
“The Braveheart star cited 2011 Jared Diamond book Collapse: How Societies Choose To Fail Or Succeed as he said ‘it didn’t take long’ for a civilization to collapse.
“Gibson explained: ‘It says all the things you need for a civilization to cave in and collapse.”
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffee or become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. Justin will be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
With apologies to my readers, and especially my donors and subscribers, urgent business requires me to be on the mainland. Kali has been very kind and helped me assemble today’s thread. I’ll be properly back at my station with an “Economic” thread on Monday. Thank you for bearing with.
Huge thanks to Gerry for being this month’s sponsor. He has asked me to post the following: Still alive in ’25 – we’re all in this together! Find supportive community and resources at postdoom.com (founded by Michael Dowd; RIP)
“Why does Trump want Greenland? Resource-rich country has a key place due to climate change…
“Greenland is where climate change, scarce resources, tense geopolitics and new trade patterns all intersect, said Ohio University security and environment professor Geoff Dabelko.”
“Winter returned with a vengeance in Southern Norway this week, with sudden heavy snowfall setting new records and disrupting road, rail and air traffic. Then it started raining, leading to fears that ice would pose more hazards since temperatures were due to drop again.”
“Bumblebees have been found to be starting nests in the depths of winter due to climate change, say conservationists. [Scotland]
“The charity Buglife said active worker bumblebees, which do most of the work in a nest, were spotted in Aberdeen during mild weather over the Christmas break.”
“Donegal [Ireland] experienced driest ever 2024 and warmest May on record.
“It was a year of weather extremes in Donegal with the county experiencing its driest ever year at one monitoring station and the warmest May on record at another.”
“Record heat has been sweeping Europe from West (starting from France) to East (now Ukraine) passing through Germany and Balkans. Hottest January nights in history in Northern Ukraine… Almost 18C [64F] yesterday in Germany.”
“Record Temperatures in Romania: Warmest January 8 Morning Logged.
“January 8, 2025 brings record high temperatures in Romania, with historical highs recorded at 37 weather stations, including Bucharest-Afumati, where the warmest morning for this day in the history of measurements was recorded.”
“The extreme wind phenomenon that hit Peniche on Sunday, causing damage to houses, has been confirmed as being a tornado, with gusts between 90 and 120 kilometres per hour.”
“”The drought is severe; we will run out of water,” warns agricultural leader.
“Ángela Delgado, president of the Canary Islands Association of Farmers and Ranchers (ASAGA), has raised an urgent alarm over the worsening drought affecting the archipelago. In a statement to Diario de Avisos, she stressed the critical need for infrastructure to collect and manage water resources.”
“Reduced fog, increased temperatures among climatic changes affecting mountain regions of Africa: Survey.
“Reduced fog can be driven by increased temperatures, which, in turn, causes rising cloud base or overall reduced cloud incidence in mountain regions, the study highlighted.”
“KZN weather [South Africa]: 11 dead, six-year-old boy killed in lightning strike.
“At least 370 houses were completely destroyed and 933 households affected with municipal roads, bridges, schools and water infrastructure bearing the brunt of the storm damage.”
“MIN 28.9C [84F] Tulear – NATIONAL RECORD: MADAGASCAR HOTTEST NIGHT IN HISTORY; MIN 29.0C Inhambane – NATIONAL RECORD: MOZAMBIQUE HOTTEST JANUARY NIGHT IN HISTORY.”
“Zambia’s currency stuck at record low as drought persists…
“Analysts had hoped Zambia’s emergence from default early last year would have helped sentiment, but the currency is now roughly 3% below where it was before its debt restructuring deal and has fallen nearly 15% over the last six months.”
“Several cities in Saudi Arabia hit by unprecedented torrential rains, severe floods…
“Videos on social media accounts documented the extent of the flooding with water levels rising and sweeping cars off roads, as well as buildings being submerged due to the heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.”
“All regions of Iraq are experiencing “severe drought,” with levels ranging between 1.6-1.8 above the normal threshold… Iraq has faced a water crisis for several years, but the situation has worsened in the past four years…”
“Iran says capital will move to Makran on southern coast…
“Iran will relocate its capital to the southern coastal region of Makran, the government spokeswoman said on Tuesday, in an ambitious plan aimed at bypassing Tehran’s enduring overpopulation, power shortages and water scarcity.”
“Energy officials attribute this to severe weather conditions and reduced river water levels affecting hydropower plants… Residents complain about rising coal prices and the lack of firewood for heating.”
“Climate change and conflict drive leishmaniasis in Pakistan…
“Recent outbreaks of the disfiguring, sandfly-spread disease are the result of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s perfect storm of circumstances… neglected diseases such as leishmaniasis can devastate not just bodies, but entire lives.”
“India is overlooking the climate drag on its economic growth… The country’s climate-neutral GDP forecasts require urgent revision…
“Increasingly frequent droughts are threatening agricultural output, a “day zero” water event, in which all water sources dry up, has already hit Chennai and heatwaves are stressing the electricity grid.”
“Japan’s hottest year since records began threatens rice supply, ecosystems.
“With scorching summers, sweltering autumns and a steady rise in sea temperatures, Japan’s climate crisis deepened in 2024… The heat spared no season. Monthly records were broken in April, July, and October, while summer temperatures tied the highs of 2023. Even autumn refused to cool off…”
“HISTORIC HEAT IN INDIAN OCEAN – Cocos Islands (Australian Territory) set another record: 32.7C [90.9F] January hottest day in history tied
“More January records in AUSTRALIA: 30.1 Pardoo HIghest minimum; 30.3 Green Cape hIghest maximum. 100% of the tropics are smashing every record, all over.”
“Parts of Sigatoka town flooded, flood alert issued for Central and Eastern divisions [Fiji].
“Parts of Sigatoka town is now flooded due to heavy rain. It has been raining in the area since 2:00pm and drivers coming into the town have reported almost nil visibility.”
“Argentina’s soy belt may be in for an alarmingly dry January.
“Despite much-needed rainfall during planting, bone-dry conditions are set to grip the country’s farmland through at least mid-January, greatly increasing odds that soybean yields will disappoint for a sixth consecutive season.”
“Climate change’s hidden cost: Mental health crisis among Montana’s farmers and ranchers…
“The River Road East fire, fueled by hot winds and dry grass, burned over 17,000 acres in Montana in August of 2023 and nearly destroyed Love’s Deluge Farms as well. “It was extremely frightening,” Elan Love said.”
“Los Angeles Fires and Winter Drought Likely Linked to Ocean Heat…
“January is the heart of California’s rainy season, when cool storms from the Gulf of Alaska paint hillsides green with new grass. But this year, a stubborn high-pressure ridge has created a virtual force field near Los Angeles that has blocked moisture for months.”
“As climate change warms the planet, wildfires have become so unpredictable and extreme that new words were invented: firenado, gigafire, fire siege — even fire pandemic. California has 78 more annual “fire days” — when conditions are ripe for fires to spark — than 50 years ago.”
“Global sea surface temperatures, 1982 – 2025 are up about 0.8°C over that time period. It took billions of Hiroshima bombs worth of ocean heating to get to this moment.
“What Will You Save When the Climate Crisis Comes For You?
“…Climate collapse is coming for the city where I was born. Water and sewage and oil will rise and one day the sump pump won’t be enough. And my first thought after that shocked me: What will happen to the museums?”
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffee or become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. Justin will be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
“As far as I know, your work is unique in pulling together stories from all over the world. Very sobering but a better and more complete view. Terrific and necessary work. Thank you!” – Simon
“With the inundation of so much depressing news, Justin Panopticon presents it in a succinct format that one can quickly go thru and see the big picture of climate and economics/politics to stay current and if a particle topic is of interest one can delve into the details… I try never to miss any of his posts…I am a Patreon of his work.”
– Karina S.
Search
About This Site
Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.
“The 365-day running mean for the global surface temperature anomaly is back over 1.60°C, and the daily is back over 1.80°C. 
“‘Unusual’ and weak La Niña confirmed, [theoretically] offers cooling respite after record El Niño…
“Daily global surface temperature updates were delayed a few days. They were finally posted this morning. And the records keep on falling.
“In case you had any doubt, the near perfect fit of the quadratic trendline makes it clear: global sea surface temperatures are accelerating.
“It seems like Sea Surface warming is accelerating faster than Land Surface warming.
“Trump Signs Orders to Promote Fossil Fuels and End Climate Policies.
“‘Chilling effect’ spreads to European asset managers over climate even as risks rise…
“While nearly 100% of Mainland USA is colder than average, it’s just the opposite in Alaska, which is living a beyond exceptionally mild month. Yesterday Tmaxes (via Rick Thoman) shows anomalies up to +50F above average at Deadhorse.
“Potentially historic winter storm could cripple parts of Deep South…
“Grand Canyon experiencing driest winter on record.
“‘Everyone needs to be on high alert,’ mayor says, as a new burst of dangerous winds bears down on Los Angeles…
“Reinsurance retreat deepens California wildfire insurance crisis…
“EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN MEXICO – record heat in the Gulf of Mexico with January records smashed:
“CARIBBEAN ENDLESS RECORD HEAT – two years breaking and re-breaking every record in the Caribbean and it’s just getting worse: All Nino records are being smashed one by one.
“A strong fire breaks out in Siachoque, Boyacá [Colombia].
“Colombia hails Türkiye’s help for flood-stricken areas…
“Brazil drought lights a fire under global coffee prices…
“Brazil is experiencing a record temperature of 41.5°C [106.7F] so far this year.
“Five days after the forest fire broke out in Epuyén, Chubut [Argentina] and the fire continues out of control. 
“High fertiliser use halves numbers of pollinators, world’s longest study finds…
“Europe’s farming crisis: who will grow our food?
“Danish carbon tax on agriculture essential for climate, minister says…
“RED WARNING | Andévalo and Condado (province of Huelva, Spain) Extreme danger due to very heavy rain. In some localities in the area, more than 120 l/m² have accumulated in less than twelve hours. [AEMET announcement]
“Snow and torrential rains fell on Friday in several regions of Algeria. 
“Endless record heat in GHANA – new January record at Akim Oda with 36.6C [97.9F].
“Torrential rain results in flooding of graves and collapsed headstones in Johannesburg cemeteries.
“Exodus in Maysan, drought hits Southern Iraq hard.
“Heavy rain in Gilan began on Wednesday evening [Iran] and caused flooding, which caused heavy damage to water, electricity and gas infrastructure in Talesh…
“Glacier Melt: A Water Crisis Brewing In Kashmir.
“India-Bangladesh water stand-off…
“Dry materials on forest floor and drought are stoking forest fires [Nepal].
“Nepal’s citrus industry struggles against climate change.
“This winter, China has had abnormally little precipitation. 
“RECORD WARMTH IN HOKKAIDO [Northern Japan].
“Super snowy winter in Sukayu [890m], Japan!
“More exceptional warmth in Indonesia and Malaysia with MINIMUM temperatures locally >28C [82.4F].
“Indonesia experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, the country’s weather agency said Friday, matching several other nations which have reported similar rises in temperature…
“Landslides and flash floods on Indonesia’s Java island leave 17 dead and 8 missing.
“Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed that eight people died in the landslides that hit two areas in Bali…
“Tropical Cyclone Sean has caused record-breaking rain while intensifying to a category three storm off the northern coast of Western Australia…
“Western Australians have faced brutal record-breaking temperatures with Perth hitting a 10-year high of 43.6C and Geraldton hitting a record of 49.3 [120.7F] with Queensland now set to brace for a “severe heatwave”…
“Residents in Western Australia have been warned about a rare infection which can result in death as a heatwave engulfs large swathes of the state…
“Drought and some of the driest conditions on record across South Australia are making it extremely difficult for the state’s dairy farmers this season.
“Aviation growth ‘will counteract’ emissions reduction efforts…
“Businesses ‘recalibrating climate goals as AI pushes emissions higher’.
“Scientists Cast Doubt on Atmospheric Methane Removal Technology…
“Davos climate activists paint Amazon base green, disrupt helicopters…
“Arctic sea-ice extent is once again at a record low for the day. Maximum extent typically happens at the end of February or early March. 
“Top financial watchdog warns climate change set to trigger market panics… 
“Peering Into a Bleak, ‘Uninsurable Future’…
“Planet-warming gas levels rose more than ever in 2024…
“Once a month I post my “Future Keeling Curve” …It shows “Net-Zero” being reached in 2113, as of the latest data…
“Study shows hot leaves can’t catch carbon from the air. It’s bad news for rainforests – and Earth…
“In 2024, Earth received about 2.9 millimetres of rain per day. That may not sound like much, but it could represent a new record amount of precipitation for the planet.
“Damaging Megadroughts Are Spreading Around the World…
“Global temperatures have started 2025 at record-setting levels – above where they were in January 2024 despite the emergence of modest La Nina conditions in the tropical Pacific…
“I’m not sure why the sea surface temperature of the sub polar region of the North Atlantic (the region just South of Greenland) is spiking, but it is…
“Extraordinary heat in Northern Europe: 17th day of records broken in Europe in 17 days this month/year: arguably it never happened before in climatic history.
“Røros, the coldest place in southern Norway, has the last days experienced an unparalleled January heat. Friday was the 2. day in row with +9C [48.2F] and over the old January record of 8.2C 1.1.2020. 
“Storm damage risks electric supply from power station…
“Two rallies in the Welsh motorsport calendar have been cancelled due to destruction left by Storm Darragh.
“Vignemale and Oulettes Glacier 1891 | 2024
“After intense flooding, Barcelona is still battling drought…
“Sicily’s Aeolian islands were cut off by bad weather on Friday and schools were shut due to torrential rain on Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi and Panarea.
“Tunisia’s six-year drought cripples women herb harvesters.
“Moroccan watermelon exports hit eight-year low due to severe drought…
“Extraordinary record at Berberati, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC With 38.0C [100.4F] it smashed in pieces its record of January hottest day, after breaking with huge margins those of all previous months.
“Nigeria’s Cocoa Industry in Shambles as Farmers Battle Theft and Violence.
“ENDLESS RECORD HEAT IN THE GULF OF GUINEA – three Months with hundreds of records smashed every single day in every single country and it’s continuing….
“Another record day in Mozambique:
“Pakistan’s ‘Agri sector is facing severe challenges due to water scarcity’.
“‘A Year of Failed Crops’: Erratic Rain, Overflowing Lakes Hurt Haryana Farmers [Northern, central India].
“While it is wintertime across the country, Kerala is experiencing heatwave-like conditions.
“Yala Glacier in Himalayas Projected to vanish by 2040s [Nepal].
“China’s Himalayan mega dam deepens India’s water worries…
“Tibet’s Earthquake Aftermath: Cracks in China’s Hydropower Infrastructure.
“Disaster-hardened Japan faces enormous costs from climate change…
“Severe flooding in Pitas, Malaysia has displaced 10,000 people, prompting authorities to activate 17 temporary evacuation centres (PPS) as rising waters isolate villages and render roads impassable…
“Red Bridge, Tourist Attraction in Bandar Lampung Collapses Due to Flood [Sumatra, Indonesia].
“The NSW government has declared a natural disaster in three areas, as wild weather continues across Australia this weekend, with storms, heatwaves, and a possible cyclone predicted.
“HISTORIC HEAT IN OCEANIA. All Oceania is with relentless record heat, every single day
“EXCEPTIONAL WARMTH IN ANTARTICA – minimum temperatures +2C/+4C as South as 74S in Terra Nova Bay, Progress, Syowa, Novolazarevskaya, Zhongshan and Jongo Bongo Stations.
“Hundreds of homes evacuated as Patagonia fires grow in Argentina.
“A state of emergency has been declared in southern Brazil after heavy rain caused flooding in coastal cities including Balneário Camboriú and Itapema.
“HISTORIC HEAT WAVE IN SOUTH AMERICA – temperatures near 45C [113F] in Argentina and records broken:
“Exclusive – Argentina negotiating gas imports from Bolivia, Chile as heat wave stokes demand [and causes blackouts].
“LA wildfires: evacuees warned against returning to homes due to toxic waste.
“L.A. Isn’t Ready for What’s Next. Sooner or later, a winter storm will hit, and deadly mudslides and debris flows that will likely follow…
“Climate change is already changing how we eat. It could get much worse…
“Initiatives like “meatless Mondays” are not always strictly necessary and animal products will not be off the menu in a net zero future, the UK Government’s climate advisers have suggested.
““Bonkers” – Scientists Solve Unprecedented 2023 Climate Mystery.
“Economic growth could fall 50% over 20 years from climate shocks, say actuaries…
“Armed conflict and extreme weather driven by climate change are viewed as the top risks for the global economy in 2025, according to a new report.
“Are we entering a dangerous new phase of climate change?
“It’s astonishing when you think about how big the Earth is. 2024 had 7% more atmospheric moisture than 2000. That moisture loading is a big reason for the biblical flood events in 2024 because storms amass it.
“Even with La Niña, both hemispheres are record warm! 
“Research finds frozen ground in the Arctic is sinking at an increased rate.
“Pervasive glacier retreats across Svalbard from 1985 to 2023…
“Finland’s climate warms faster than global average…
“Nord Stream methane leaks spread across 14% of Baltic waters…
“It’s not just the Financial Times last weekend – in parallel, the insurance industry is also increasingly concerned about the risks of AMOC slowing or shut-down. 
“WEST EUROPE RECORD WARMTH – while the Mediterranean is freezing, it’s super balmy with 16C in Iceland and Scotland.
“Britain’s topsy-turvy weather continues! Warmest January 14 ever recorded… just days after UK’s coldest January night in 15 years…
“Mer de Glace 2007 | 2024. The largest French glacier has lost ~95 m in thickness during this period at 1700 m above sea level! 
“Historic warmth in the AZORES ISLANDS.
“Murcia [Spain] wakes to freezing temperatures and record lows.
“Drought continues in Spain’s Andalucia as January rain fails to fill reservoirs.
“The Floods This Time: In the Mediterranean, Climate Change Is Already Here…
“Mediterranean Sea Surface Temperatures increased by +0.5°C in a few years. 
“Greece hotel pools set to switch to seawater on drought-hit islands.
“Concerns grow over Limassol’s impending water crisis [Cyprus]…
“Syria endowment ministry urges for rain prayers amid drought fears…
“Illegal wells and over-irrigation spark concerns in Morocco ‘dry zones’ amid drought…
“EXCEPTIONAL HEAT IN IVORY COAST – 39.6 [103.3F] at Odienne and 38.5 in the capital Yamassoukro.
“South Africa suspended operations at a key border crossing with Botswana after heavy rains caused flooding…
“Cyclone Dikeledi: UN mounts aid response for victims in Africa…
“Daughters of drought: teen girls traded for grass in Africa’s climate crisis..
“RECORD HEAT IN INDIA – more record heat from Southern India.
“Unusual weather patterns cause record low rainfall this winter in the North [of Vietnam].
“Astonishing temperature rise! In the next 10 days, China will experience a warm temperature close to the historical record for the same period. 
“China’s coastal water temperatures hit record high in 2024…
“Hong Kong Breaks 35 Temperature Records in 2024, Hottest Year in City’s History…
“Forest fires continue in Suphan Buri and Chon Buri [Thailand]…
“Singapore Braces for Second Monsoon Surge Amid Record Rainfall.
“RECORD HEAT IN AUSTRALIA AND SE ASIA.
“Marine rescues, giant hailstones as wild storms linger over northern NSW.
“Fish diversity has changed dramatically on the Great Barrier Reef.
“Last month was the warmest December on record in Marlborough [NZ].
“Devastating fire in Epuyén [southern Argentina]: hundreds evacuated, houses burned and Route 40 cut off…
“Corn hovers near 13-month high as drought grips Argentina…
“Drought, intense heat worry soybean farmers in southern Brazil…
“‘We are crying for rain’: Suriname’s villages go hungry as drought bites.
“RECORD HEAT IN THE CARIBBEANS. Records never end all over the tropics, the exact opposite pattern of what [normally] happens during a Nina.
“Hawaii lawmakers vow to stabilize property insurance market as climate change fuels higher premiums…
“The $2 Trillion Home Insurance Nightmare Is Getting Even Worse…
“I’m a climate scientist and my house in LA burned down. My work has never been more real…
“Trump energy chief pick says linking wildfires to climate crisis is ‘hype’.
“New York City lawsuit against Exxon, BP, Shell over climate change dismissed…
“Prioritizing Food Over Climate: The Shift In Global Farming Policies.
“Melting glaciers are reshaping landscapes and national borders around the world.
“Pathogens and planetary change.
“Why a comedian is using jokes to talk about climate change…
“January 3-10 all saw record high global surface temperatures. 
“The 40 million km² of the North Atlantic have been above pre-2023 temperatures for 676 days in a row, and counting!
“Looking at another year of ECMWF reanalysis data, it still looks like the AMOC is rapidly slowing down.
“The utterly plausible case that climate change makes London much colder [and drier]…
“Water shortage fears as Labour’s first AI growth zone sited close to new reservoir…
“UK faces broccoli and cauliflower shortage this spring…
“Just Stop Oil protesters spray-paint ‘1.5 is dead’ on Charles Darwin’s grave…
“Flooding: a giant basin to protect Paris from the waters is being tested in Seine-et-Marne…
“Frosty days increasingly rare, setting new weather record [Netherlands].
“Warm winter in Ukraine: January 2025 breaks temperature records.
“Turkey experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, its weather agency said Monday, as bouts of extreme temperatures multiplied across the globe due to climate change.
“Traditional Kurdish ‘Rain Bride’ Ritual Resurfaces Amid Regional Drought Concerns…
“Jordan signed a preliminary agreement on Sunday to begin a major project for desalinating and transporting water from Aqaba south of the kingdom to the capital Amman.
“December was the driest month on record [Portugal].
“2024 was the driest and second warmest year on record in the Canary Islands…
“World’s record heat is worsening air pollution and health in Global South.
“RECORD HEAT ALL OVER AFRICA.
“Climate change forcing farmers to replace cows with goats, chickens with ducks.
“Nineteen hippos die in Zimbabwe after severe drought.
“More record heat in MOZAMBIQUE and MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL in this insane heat wave which has been going on relentlessly for months.
“‘Nightmare’ fire threatens iconic Madagascar national park.
“Mayotte hit by new storm [Dikeledi] just weeks after devastating cyclone.
“Sri Lanka’s children suffer amid climate change-fuelled floods and disease.
“Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir [Himalayan India] experienced its lowest precipitation in over five decades in 2024, surpassing the 50-year low recorded in 1974…
“In mid-January, China will experience an extremely fierce warming, and temperature in most areas will hit the highest record of the same period! 
“Rainfall recorded in Singapore for January hits new high on Pulau Tekong on Jan 10…
“Endless record heat in the PHILIPPINES.
“Record heat is unstoppable in Oceania with winter hot nights:
“Better known for its scorching temperatures at this time of year, Marble Bar, 1,470 kilometres north of Perth, was hit with 104mm [4.1 inches] of rain in just over two hours on Monday evening…
“Australians may have to pay more for their home insurance due to the catastrophic fires in Los Angeles, as international firms raise premiums to pay for the expected massive payouts from those blazes.
“Exceptionally high temperatures in Patagonia [Argentina]!
“At least 10 people have died after landslides swept through two cities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, state officials have said.
“San Diego has driest start to water year in recorded history…
“‘Particularly dangerous’ wildfire weather returns to California and could linger for months, say forecasts.
“Where there’s fire, there’s smoke: Los Angeles blazes raise fears of ‘super toxic’ lung damage.
“Canadian insurers face record costs from 2024 extreme weather…
Alaska record January warmth:
“It always helps to see a straight line next to a Non-linear Trend line.
“Copernicus: 2024 is the first year to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial level.
“Sea surface temperatures and deeper water temperatures reached new record high in 2024…
“2024 wasn’t just the warmest year on record. It was the moistest year on record, too.
“La Niña is finally here but it won’t stay for long…
“Biodiversity loss and climate change: Interdependent global challenges…
“One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction.
“BlackRock quits climate change group in latest green climbdown..
“Conflict between Turkey and Kurdish groups rises around key dam in northern Syria...
“Phoenix hasn’t seen rain in 139 days. Here’s how that ranks all time.
“An insurance crisis was already brewing in L.A. Then the fires hit.
“Mel Gibson also offered up his own theory about the LA fires as he waits to find out the fate of his own home in Malibu and whether it is still standing amid the state of emergency.
“Why does Trump want Greenland? Resource-rich country has a key place due to climate change…
“The Norwegian Meteorological Institute said Wednesday that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded for mostly Arctic northern Norway.
“Snowfall breaks records, ice fears rise [Norway]…
“Bumblebees have been found to be starting nests in the depths of winter due to climate change, say conservationists. [Scotland]
“Donegal [Ireland] experienced driest ever 2024 and warmest May on record.
“EXCEPTIONAL WARMTH IN EUROPE.
“Record Temperatures in Romania: Warmest January 8 Morning Logged.
“Portugal tornado confirmed.
“”The drought is severe; we will run out of water,” warns agricultural leader.
“Reduced fog, increased temperatures among climatic changes affecting mountain regions of Africa: Survey.
“KZN weather [South Africa]: 11 dead, six-year-old boy killed in lightning strike.
“TOTAL INSANITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA:
“Zambia’s currency stuck at record low as drought persists…
“Several cities in Saudi Arabia hit by unprecedented torrential rains, severe floods…
“Iraq faces “severe” drought, SPI Index reveals…
“Iran says capital will move to Makran on southern coast…
“Tajikistan faces worsening electricity shortages…
“Climate change and conflict drive leishmaniasis in Pakistan…
“India is overlooking the climate drag on its economic growth… The country’s climate-neutral GDP forecasts require urgent revision…
“What chance for China’s melting glaciers?
“Japan’s hottest year since records began threatens rice supply, ecosystems.
“HISTORIC HEAT IN INDIAN OCEAN – Cocos Islands (Australian Territory) set another record: 32.7C [90.9F] January hottest day in history tied
“Parts of Sigatoka town flooded, flood alert issued for Central and Eastern divisions [Fiji].
“Argentina’s soy belt may be in for an alarmingly dry January.
“Endless record heat in BRAZIL: 39.4 Serido and 39.1 Patos are new records of highest temperature in January.
“Climate change’s hidden cost: Mental health crisis among Montana’s farmers and ranchers…
“Los Angeles Fires and Winter Drought Likely Linked to Ocean Heat…
“Global sea surface temperatures, 1982 – 2025 are up about 0.8°C over that time period. It took billions of Hiroshima bombs worth of ocean heating to get to this moment.
“What Will You Save When the Climate Crisis Comes For You?